Duodenal Switch Surgery
in Oklahoma City
The “single anastomosis DS” or SADS operation is a modification of a well-known and very aggressive malabsorptive operation called the Duodenal Switch. By modifying the formal Duodenal Switch surgery, vitamin deficiencies, diarrhea, and malnutrition are minimized while the excellent weight loss and Type II Diabetes resolution remain high.
Learn about Mike’s incredible story about how Gastric Bypass Surgery transformed his life.
What is Duodenal Switch Surgery?
In the SADS procedure, part of the small intestine is divided only one time, just past the stomach, and a “loop” from the end of the small bowel is connected to the duodenum. This creates 300cm of a common channel which significantly reduces malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and diarrhea.
Excess weight loss and DMII resolution are still very good. The longest-term data comes from a study done in Spain and is just 4 years old, so long-term weight loss, DMII resolution, and long-term complications are unknown at this point.
Individuals who should consider the Single Anastomosis DS procedure include the following:
- Those who are concerned about a foreign object inside the abdomen (band).
- Those who have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, or other obesity-related co-morbidities.
- Those who have a BMI >60.
- Those who must always take anti-inflammatory medications.
Duodenal Switch Pre-Op Information
As we do with all of our bariatric surgeries, WeightWise conducts a series of conversations with every patient. We get a better understanding of our patients and for our patients to learn more about our weight loss procedures. It doesn’t matter if it’s a duodenal switch, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy, we want to make sure it’s the right fit.
You’ll first meet with one of our surgeons to review your health history. This could cover family history, current diet, how much you exercise, and more to learn more about you. The surgeon will also ask why you want the surgery, what you hope to get out of the surgery, and how invested you are in the process.
WeightWise does this because having the duodenal switch surgery to lose weight is more than just a few hours on the operating table having a segment of the small intestine manipulated. It is just one step on a life-long road to becoming a better, healthier you.
Have you tried to lose weight before? What worked? What didn’t? Was physical activity ever a part of your plan? Every patient has different answers to these questions and more. Unfortunately, bariatric surgery isn’t for everyone and we want to make sure you’re this is the right choice for you.
After meeting with the surgeon, you’ll meet with other WeightWise staff to talk about what is expected of you both before and after the operation. In the weeks leading up to the surgery, you are given a diet and exercise routine to prepare for the surgery. You’ll start to get a taste of what you can expect after the surgery – and the rest of your life.
While the surgery only takes a few hours in most cases, the changes in your lifestyle will have to be forever for your procedure to be a success. How you lived your life brought you to us in the first place, so you need to be ready to make a change for good.
Duodenal Switch Research
In 2017, a Swedish University conducted a study comparing duodenal switch and gastric bypass procedures to find out which was most effective. While the duodenal switch had a great loss of body mass index percentage, it also created more adverse conditions than the gastric bypass.
The duodenal switch saw a 79% drop in excess BMI compared to 62% for the gastric bypass. After the surgeries, only 24% of duodenal switch patients were severely obese as opposed to 49% for the bypass. Both procedures saw a significant drop in diabetes as well as sleep apnea.
However, complications were reported by just 14% of the gastric bypass patients while 27% of the switch patients stated there were issues. However, even though the gastric bypass group scored higher in the weight loss category, duodenal switch participants rated their outcome much higher (27% rated excellent compared to 13%).
In the end, both groups rated the overall perception of the procedures similarly (62% to 58% in favor of duodenal switch) and both groups also said they would recommend the surgeries at a 90% clip. That’s why we say there is no one surgery for every patient – each person has their own idea of what they’re looking for.
Diabetes Cure Rates
The duodenal switch has been proven time and time again to be one of the best ways to combat type-2 diabetes. While all bariatric surgical procedures have an excellent track record of seeing diabetes go into remission or gone entirely, the duodenal switch has had the most success.
In the 1980s, the duodenal switch had a nearly 99% diabetes resolution. In 2011, those results were confirmed after another study was conducted that found that every patient no longer needed insulin after just one year of post-op. Without question, the duodenal switch procedure can help patients with diabetes.
Post-Op Information
After the duodenal switch surgery, you can expect to lose up to 80 percent of your excess weight in the first year. Your transformation begins now: although we recommend an overnight stay to monitor your condition, you will be able to get up and move around almost immediately.
If you are experiencing pain that keeps you from moving about freely after 24 hours, please let us know. This is why we recommend at least an overnight stay after every procedure. Our surgeons have an excellent success rate, but we want to quickly address any potential problems.
Most patients can return to everyday activities in the next day or two. Taking the kids to school or practice, running errands, and walking around the neighborhood (maybe for the first time in a long time) is not only okay but encouraged. There may be some minor aches, but nothing that keeps you from returning home.
Our exercise physiologist gives patients a training regimen to follow after the procedure. They won’t be competing in the Bostom Marathon anytime soon, but they do work on the cardiovascular system, flexibility, and strength. Some of our past patients have competed in triathlons, marathons, and half marathons after time.
But most patients are happy to be able to play with their children or grandchildren again. Or even be able to walk the stadium steps at T. Boone Pickens Stadium or listen to Boomer Sooner at a University of Oklahoma home basketball game.
However, there is a very big change waiting for patients in the days and weeks after surgery: their diet. For the first two weeks, your diet will consist of nothing but liquids and vitamin and mineral supplements. Part of the pre-surgery diet was to prepare patients for this and get their body ready for the drastic food intake change.
Deviating from this diet could jeopardize the surgery, cause pain, and even result in injury. We understand it can be a struggle, that’s why WeightWise assigns a patient advocate to everyone we treat. They are a shoulder to cry on, an empathetic ear, and a personal cheerleader all rolled into one!
Although it is hard at the start, this is the time your body starts going through hormonal changes while it acclimates to less food. In fact, the physical changes to your body start to take place even if adapting mentally to the change is a struggle. Your body will begin to feel fuller faster, easing the transition over the next few weeks.
After two weeks, soft proteins are introduced to the diet. This doesn’t mean pureeing everything you eat as small chunks of food could be missed and create complications. After a month has passed, you’ll start taking in other foods as outlined by our dietitians. These foods – and portion sizes – are what you’ll be eating for now on. You will be eating mostly lean protein with some non-starchy vegetables at each meal. Eat slow, chew well, and stop when you are full.
How much weight can patients expect to lose?
Duodenal switch patients have been known to lose up to 80% of the excess weight two years after the surgery. Please note that that this is the excess weight of the patient, not the end goal weight or pre-op weight.
The most successful patients are the ones that stick to the diet as well as regular physical activity. We firmly believe that surgery is only one part of losing weight. Patients must be vigilant when it comes to diet for the rest of their lives and make sure to get the exercise they need.
According to The Third International Consensus Conference on Duodenal Switch, the number of DS procedures had increased by 60 percent over a two-year period. According to 7 out of 10 doctors, the expected weight loss after a five-year span was up to 79 percent!
If you would like to watch one of our FREE Oklahoma Weight Loss Surgery informational seminars online, please click here to access the online form.